| 摘要 |
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a mechanism for detecting an ink cartridge use state which can correctly detect whether or not an ink cartridge to be set to an ink carriage after being replaced is an unused one, and can prevent an ink cartridge use-state detecting means such as a cartridge sensor from damaging at the detection and adverse effects to a scanning operation of the ink cartridge. SOLUTION: A reflecting member or a conductive member is used as a member 12 for displaying that the ink cartridge 11 is unused. Moreover, as the use-state detecting means, it is detected whether or not a reflecting light from the display member 12 when light is applied by an irradiator 13a to the reflecting member 12 is received by a light receiving device 13b or a conduction state of the display member 12 is detected by an electric connecting element 13c. The presence/absence of invalidating the display means 12 carried out when the ink cartridge 11 is already started to be used is detected. The use state of the ink cartridge is thus detected. |
